Councillor of the presidential cabinet Bartomeu Escandell met today with Pere Perelló, chief of staff of the regional ministry of the interior and emergency services , as well as other representatives of Formentera’s forces of public order. At the meeting were Chief Joan Mayans of the local police force; Ivan Marí, head of the local fire brigade; and – from Protecció Civil, the local volunteer troupe – chief of staff Pep Marí and staff member Francisco Moya. Also present was Xavier Vila, director of the company contracted to install emergency number plates on homes located in isolated zones of the island.

Councillor Escandell explained that participants sought to «improve coordination between the different forces of order that are under the responsibility of the Formentera Council and interior ministry of the Govern Balear». He also took the opportunity to describe to Mr Perelló the recently-implemented geolocalisation system which permits emergency services to quickly reach homes in secluded areas.

Vanessa Parellada, head of the department of social welfare and Azuzena Carrasco, staff specialist, met with Espai Dones president Vanessa Díaz to unveil the activities programme to back Formentera’s celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, tomorrow, 25 November. Councillor Parellada pointed to funding and logistical help the administration provides Espai Dones «to ensure such events take place». «However», she continued, «we must go even further in the fight against gender-based violence». She indicated the desire of CiF officials to «tackle the issue using education».

The Espai Dones president expressed her thanks for the Formentera Council’s support but bemoaned the fact «gender-based violence remains a pressing issue». Tomorrow at six in the evening an informational stand will be set up at la Constitució square. Then, at 7:30, a text in which Espai Dones speaks out against gender-based violence will be read before crowds on the square. Finally, at eight o’ clock, an exhibit on Simone de Beauvoir (Feminista i escriptora) will open at the municipal gallery. Ms Díaz asked for all to come out in red shoes.

The activities programme continues through 12 December, when organisers plan to bring together women of the island for a supper for sisterhood. A festival of film shorts is scheduled for 27 November and an assertiveness workshop is planned for the first of December. This last year 18 women denounced cases of abuse to the social services office of the Formentera Council.

The Formentera Council’s department of culture and patrimony held a press conference today and announced it is accepting applications for the 2015 period for its 6,000€ research grant. Department head Susana Labrador indicated applicants can come from any area of the arts, humanities or social sciences.

Councillor Labrador reminded the crowd of winning work from years past, including the 2012 study “De qui venim: anàlisi psicocultural de la gent gran a Formentera” by Josep Maria Garcia-Borés, the first grant recipient. In 2013, Vicent Ferrer Mayans and Raquel Guasch Ferrer were awarded the grant for “Estudi ecotoponímic de les véndes de gregal de l’illa de Formentera”. And last year’s winner was Maria Bofill Martínez, for her project “L’estudi de les comunitats prehistòriques de Formentera a partir de l’anàlisi funcional dels artefactes lítics i ossis”.

In the coming days rules of participation will be posted on the online bulletin of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) and candidates will have 20 business days to present their projects. Then, when the deadline has closed, a panel will select a winner based on «scientific interest, coherence, methodology and a CV submitted by the applicant», said Councillor Parellada.

According to Parellada, the grant – now in its fourth year – demonstrates the Formentera Council’s clear support for scientific research on the island of Formentera. She noted this year’s call for applications would be published in universities and other educational centres in the Balearics and across the Catalan-speaking territories.

Earlier today CiF president Jaume Ferrer and councillors Susan Labrador (education), Alejandra Ferrer (land and tourism) and Daisee Aguilera (environment) met in the Council's plenary hall with Spurgeon Miller, mayor of Guanaja, Honduras. Also present was Blai Paco, president of Unió Empresarial de l'Anoia de Catalunya, the association which set up the encounter.

Mr Ferrer gave thanks to Mr Miller for his visit and commented, «Guanaja and Formentera, for their similar sizes and populations, can share a lot with respect to our administrative models». Tourism in Guanaja, according to the Formentera Council president, is in the beginning stages of its expansion. The representatives took advantage of the encounter to discuss environmental issues such as waste management, supply of water and energy and promoting sustainable transport.

The mayor of the Honduran island took note of the path taken by Formentera and declared his desire to implement similar solutions to ours. He referenced ideas such as the construction of a waste transfer plant and supplying electricity by means of an underwater cable and indicated, «the key to sustainable growth is striking a balance on tourism that is both environmentally-friendly and respects homegrown traditions, which is what has happened here on Formentera».

After the morning meeting, the officials visited landmarks like the Es Cap de Barbaria lighthouse and other sites such as the field of solar panels and the transfer plant.